William Downie
After living and working in Burgundy for several years, it's probably no surprise that winemaker William Downie sought a patch of his own to grow and make Pinot Noir. Having originally purchased fruit from other growers to make his wines, he now leases five vineyards in the Baw Baw Shire in Gippsland with fellow winemaker Patrick Sullivan.
He's now considered one of the pioneers of the Aussie lo-fi movement and one of the most gifted and idiosyncratic Pinot Noir producers in the country.
With his thick and bushy beard, he almost looks like the reincarnation of Ned Kelly, yet his intentions are noble: to create lo-fi wines that are hi-fi in taste, purity, and with a solid sense of place. If wine wasn't enough, his farm, Guendulain, produces pork, lamb, beef and poultry, and also has an orchard, vegetable garden and vineyard.
